A proposal to remake a property with deep roots in Old Town Chinatown’s Chinese-American community has stalled after running into opposition from Portland’s Historic Landmarks Commission.

Guardian Real Estate Services aimed to reposition the Tuck Lung building, at 140 N.W. Fourth Ave. The developer purchased the building for $8.25 million in May from investor John Beardsley.

After receiving design advice from the Historic Landmarks Commission, Guardian President Tom Brenneke said it appears unlikely the commission would accept the project team’s proposed alterations. Now, the developer may give up on updating the existing building and wait until a larger one can be constructed on the property, he said.

“Our proposal was to improve the façade and install a new storefront,” he said. “We don’t feel we’re going to be successful to convince the Landmarks Commission to allow us to do that. We’re unsure of our path. It’s frustrating.”

It’s official: some developers are setting up huge projects outside Portland’s city limits in other suburbs to avoid the Inclusionary Housing affordable residential unit requirement.
On Tuesday Sept. 12, a new large project being developed by Guardian Real Estate Services was approved by a 5-0 vote at the Milwaukie planning commission in the southeast suburb of Portland.
Plans include 110 units, 7,500 square-feet of retail space, 78 parking spaces for cars, a fitness facility and a club room for residents. The building will have 7,190 square-feet of retail and commercial space on the first floor and 110 multifamily dwelling units on the top four floors.